Submerged storage vessel

ABSTRACT

A submarine storage vessel comprised of at least a lower section and an upper section, the lower section being adapted for positioning into the underwater formation to an extent such that a substantially horizontally disposed wall comprising the upper section, is positioned in contact with the formation.

ilriited States Patent i inney 1 Nov. 6, i973 i 1 SUBMERGED STORAGEVESSEL 3,675,431 7/1972 Jackson 61/46 2,924,947 2/1960 Peterson 61/465Inventor Herschel Fmney, Bartlesvme, 3,l28,604 4/1964 Sandberg 61 465Okla 3,429,128 2/1969 Stafford et al 61/465 [73] Assignee: PhillipsPetroleum Company,

Bartlesville, Okla. Primary ExaminerMervin Stein Filed. Feb 23 1972Assistant Examiner-David H. Corbin App]. No.: 228,625

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Rice 61/465 Attorney-Quigg &Oberlin [57] ABSTRACT A submarine storage vessel comprised of at least alower section and an upper section, the lower section being adapted forpositioning into the underwater formation to an extent such that asubstantially horizontally disposed wall comprising the upper section,is p0- sitioned in contact with the formation.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SUBMERGE'D STORAGE VESSEL This inventionrelates'to submerged storage vessels.

in one of its more specific aspects, this invention relates to a vesselparticularly suitable for offshore situat ing for the purpose of storingthe products of offshore production operations.

One of the problems encountered relative to offshore drilling-operationshas to do with productiondisposal. Conduits which transfer. therecovered products to shore are cumbersome and subject to damage.Accordingly, it is desirable to provide offshore storage, and preferablysubmerged storage, for such products. However, because of the size ofthe storage facilities involved, offshore weather conditions, thebuoyance effect on submerged storage vessels and the corrosiveconditions involved, it is difficult to provide suitable storagevessels. The submerged storage vessel of this invention acts to solvethis problem.

According to this invention there is provided a stor age vessel suitablefor underwater storage which comprises at least two sections, andpreferably three. The lower section is adapted at its lowermost edge forpositioning into the underwater formation to a depth such that asubstantially horizontally disposed wall forming the second or middlesection is positioned in contact with the formation. The lower sectionis open ended and positioned into the formation.

The vessel of this invention is comprised of a plurality of sections,preferably cylindrical. Each serves a definite purpose. While thesesections need not be cylindrical, they will be treated herein as suchwithout intending to limit the invention thereto.

The lower section of the vessel is open at its bottom. The lower edge ofthe walls forming the cylinder are adapted with one or more positioningmeans spaced around the circumference of the cylinder. These facilitatethe cutting of the bed into which the vessel is low- I 'ered andpositioned. They also allow introduction of sealing materials intocontact with the bed to stabilize the vessel and to seal the vesselaround the lower edge of the cylinder walls, the vessel walls, ifdesired, being adapted with conduit means for removal of water fro thevessels Superimposed on, and connected to, the lower cylinder is asecond section, or middle section, in open communicat'ion therewith.This middle section provides the principal storage capacity of thevessel and, for this reason, it has at least at some point a diametergreater than that of the first, or lower, cylinder. Also, the greaterdiameter of the second cylinder in conjunction with a substantiallyhorizontal wall interconnecting the second cylinder to the lowercylinder provides substantial support forthe vessel.

The middle section need not be uniform in diameter along its heightalthough it is preferable that it be so. However, it can be of a conicalconfiguration, truncated at its upper extremity to form the inlet to thevessel.

The inlet section to the vessel which can be integral with the middlesection can be of any configuration but is preferably cylindrical and ofsmaller diameter than that of the middle section. Inasmuch as someportion of this inlet section will advantageously project above thelevel of the water in which the vessel is submerged, this section canconveniently be adapted with means for supporting platforms and relatedservices.

The storage vessel of this invention will be more readily understood ifexplained in conjunction with the attached drawings in which FIG. 1 is aview in sectional elevation of the submerged vessel; FIG. 2 is a viewofthe lower edge of the wall of the lower section, and FIG. 3 shows oneembodiment ofthe wall of the vessel.

Referringnow to FIG. 1 there is shown vessel 1 comprised of lowersection 2 positioned under water 20 in underwater bed 5, middle section3 and upper section The vessel of this invention is adapted forpositioning in a formation such as mud, sand or clay. For this purpose,the lower edge 8 of the lower section can be armored with a desirablematerial to facilitate its penetration of the formation. While the wallsof the entire vessel can be made of any substance suitable in view ofunderwater conditions, such materials including steels, concrete orcombinations thereof, this tapered leading edge preferably will beformed of high strength steel.

Encapsulated in the wall of the lower section as shown in FIG. 2 will beconduit 6 from which jet 'no'zzles 16 can be caused to impinge upon theformation to provide the necessary excavation into which the walls ofthe lower section are positioned.

The lower section will be positioned in the formation to such a depththat the vessel is stabilized, that the seepage of water into thevesselaround the lower edges is minimized and such that thesubstantially horizontal ly-disposed wall 7 of the middle'section restson, and is supported'by, the underwater formation. Conduits 6 can alsobe employed for the ejection of grout or sealant 9 proximate the loweredge of the lower section to further limit seepage into the vessel.

Penetrating the formation with the lower section until the substantiallyhorizontally-disposed wall of the middle sections rests on the formationprovides a stable base for vesseland provides a formation plug 19extending upwardlyinto the vessel. The horizontal wall of the middlesection also provides a bearing surface on which water, which can bepumped into the vessel or which seeps thereinto, acts to create anegative buoyancy within the vessel, thatis, to offset the naturalbuoyancy thereof. To facilitate the achievement of neg ative buoyancy,the area of the horizontal wall can be sized as desired.

With the vessel so placed there can be positioned within the vessel, andpreferably within the lower section, one or more water evacuation means,such as submergible pumps 10, electrically or otherwise operated. Theseremove water from the vessel either through conduits 11 formed in thewall or through conduits passing upwardly through the contents of thevessel. These pumps can be operated to pump out the water as it entersthe vessel or they can be operated, if buoyancy considerations areparamount, to maintain a desired level of water superimposed abovethe'lower horizontal "wall of the middle section. If desired, thesepumps can be positioned in dewatering wells formed within the formationextending up into the lower section of the vessel, these wells beingformed any place therein but preferably adjacent to the vertical wallsof the lower section.

Superimposed on the middle section and preferably formed by walls 12extending vertically upward from horizontal walls 13 of the middlesection is upper section 4. This section will be terminated by anysuitable closure, not shown, projecting, preferably, above. the

water level. Its walls can contain those conduits which have beenpreviously described. Relatedly, the vertical walls of the middlesection can also be employed to support appurtenances to the vessel.

Since the vessel of this invention can be employed as storage for anymaterial or for habitation, its walls can be insulated internallyconsistent therewith. If insulated, the lower section can be closed offby a wall interposed between the lower section and the middle section.

The vessel of this invention can be installed simply by being submergedwith the upper section open and being positioned in the formation bymeans of the described facilities. Thereafter, it is evacuated and thepumps positioned therein as desired. In certain instances, wherebuoyancy forces dictate, buoyancy chambers 21, comparable to ballasttanks, can be positioned as at least a portion of the vertical wall 22of the middle section. These chambers can be open at their lowerextremity 23 to allow the entrance of water and can be equippped intheir upper section with openings 24 to allow the escape of air or forthe introduction of gases to remove water 25 therefrom.

While the sections of the vessel of this invention can be of variousdimensions depending upon the storage capacity desired, a suitablestorage vessel would have a cylindrical lower section having a wallheight of about 30 feet and a diameter from about 0.2 to about 0.6 thediameter of the middle section. The height of the middle section will besufficient to provide the storage capacity required in consideration ofthe diameter of the vessel.

The upper section can, of course, be of any suitable diameter and havean opening of any size desired.

For example, a suitable vessel of the type contemplated will have alower section having a wall height of about 30 feet and a diameter ofabout 125 feet. The middle section will be about 250 feet in diameterwith a wall height of about 100 feet. The top or inlet section will be30 feet in diameter with a height of about 140 feet. The walls will beof sufficient thickness to withstand the hydrostatic forces to whichthey are subjected.

it will be evident that various modifications can be made to thisinvention. Such modifications are considered, however, to be withinthe'scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A submarine storage vessel comprising:

a. a first chamber formed of a continuous side wall and a substantiallyhorizontal lower wall, said chamber having an opening into its upperportion;

b. a second chamber formed of a continuous side wall, said chamber beingopen at its lower end and intersecting said lower horizontal wall ofsaid first chamber at the upper end of said second chamber to form opencommunication with said first chamber said second chamber ofsufficiently less diameter than said first chamber to provide thehorizontal wall connecting the chambers as a bearing surface for supportof said vessel and for regulation of the bouyancy of said vessel; and

c. excavation means positioned proximate the lower end of said side wallof said second chamber.

2. The vessel of claim 1 in which said second chamber is adapted withwater removal means.

3. The vessel of claim 1 in which the lower end of said side wall ofsaid second chamber is armored.

4. The vessel of claim 1 in which said second chamber is adapted withsealant placement means to position sealant proximate the lower edge ofthe wall of said second chamber.

5. The vessel of claim 1 in which said first chamber and said secondchamber are cylindrical.

6. The vessel of claim 1 in which said opening into said first chamberis in the form of a third chamber in open communication with said firstchamber.

7. The vessel of claim 2 in which the walls of said first and secondchambers are adapted with conduit means in open commuication with saidwater removal means.

8. The vessel of claim 1 in which a wall is interposed within said firstchamber and the walls of said first chamber are insulated.

9. The vessel of claim 2 in which the lower end of said side wall ofsaid second chamber is armored and said second chamber is adapted withsealant placement means.

10. The vessel of claim 7 in which buoyancy chambers are incorporated inthe walls of said second chamber.

1. A submarine storage vessel comprising: a. a first chamber formed of acontinuous side wall and a substantially horizontal lower wall, saidchamber having an opening into its upper portion; b. a second chamberformed of a continuous side wall, said chamber being open at its lowerend and intersecting said lower horizontal wall of said first chamber atthe upper end of said second chamber to form open communication withsaid first chamber said second chamber of sufficiently less diameterthan said first chamber to provide the horizontal wall connecting thechambers as a bearing surface for support of said vessel and forregulation of the bouyancy of said vessel; and c. excavation meanspositioned proximate the lower end of said side wall of said secondchamber.
 2. The vessel of claim 1 in which said second chamber isadapted with water removal means.
 3. The vessel of claim 1 in which thelower end of said side wall of said second chamber is armored.
 4. Thevessel of claim 1 in which said second chamber is adapted with sealantplacement means to position sealant proximate the lower edge of the wallof said second chamber.
 5. The vessel of claim 1 in which said firstchamber and said second chamber are cylindrical.
 6. The vessel of claim1 in which said opening into said first chamber is in the form of athird chamber in open communication with said first chamber.
 7. Thevessel of claim 2 in which the walls of said first and second chambersare adapted with conduit means in open commuication with said waterremoval means.
 8. The vessel of claim 1 in which a wall is interposedwithin said first chamber and the walls of said first chamber areinsulated.
 9. The vessel of claim 2 in which the lower end of said sidewall of said second chamber is armored and said second chamber isadapted with sealant placemEnt means.
 10. The vessel of claim 7 in whichbuoyancy chambers are incorporated in the walls of said second chamber.